How to Say “Hello, How Are You? My Name Is” in French

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bonjour, comment allez-vous ? je m'appelle
The English phrase "hello, how are you? My name is" is translated into French as bonjour, comment allez-vous ? je m'appelle.
This phrase is a formal greeting used to ask about someone's well-being and introduce yourself. It begins with Bonjour, which is the most common and widely used greeting in French, meaning "Hello" or "Good day."

What does it mean word for word?

The part je m'appelle literally translates to "I call myself".

Which one should you use?

While comment allez-vous ? is the formal way to ask how someone is doing, you can use comment vas-tu ? to be informal with friends or family. Additionally, for a casual "Hi", you can use Salut and to ask "How are you?" informally, you can simply say Ça va ?

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The phrase bonjour, comment allez-vous ? je m'appelle is formal. To introduce yourself politely, use je m'appelle followed by your name.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Québec, Canada, the phrase Comment ça va? is frequently used to ask "How are you?"

How does it change in a sentence?

The phrase comment allez-vous ? uses the formal second-person plural verb form allez to show respect or to address a group of people.

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly say je suis followed by their name when introducing themselves. Instead, it is more natural to use je m'appelle.

Did you know?

  • In France, the greeting bonjour is not just a polite opening but a social requirement. Entering a shop or bakery without saying it can be perceived as a sign of aggression or profound rudeness.
  • While comment allez-vous ? is used for formal situations, the common informal alternative ça va ? can serve as both the question and the answer. A person might ask ça va ? and the reply will often be the exact same ça va.
  • The formal vous in comment allez-vous ? is the plural form of 'you'. Using it for a single person is a linguistic way of creating a respectful distance between the speakers.

Examples in context

  • Bonjour, Monsieur.
    Hello, sir.
  • Bonjour, Monsieur. Comment allez-vous ? Je m'appelle Sophie.
    Hello, sir. How are you? My name is Sophie.
  • Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? Je m'appelle Marc.
    Hello, how are you? My name is Marc.

Example conversation

Emma meets Gabriel at a formal professional conference.

  1. Emma

    Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? Je m'appelle Emma.
    Hello, how are you? My name is Emma.
  2. Gabriel

    Bonjour Emma, je vais très bien, merci.
    Hello Emma, I am doing very well, thank you.
  3. Gabriel

    Je m'appelle Gabriel. Enchanté de vous rencontrer.
    My name is Gabriel. Nice to meet you.
  4. Emma

    Enchantée de vous rencontrer également, Monsieur.
    Nice to meet you too, Sir.
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Jennie Martha
Jennie MarthaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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